Bit Of An Accident Today

[oz *sti*]

I was driving home today on the M8 heading east bound, the car was feeling a little rough so as I took my exit I made sure there was no one around me and gave the car a quick blast then out of now where a loud bang and then white smoke started billowing out of the engine bay.

As this was happening I just had the sad image of Jimser car going up and I thought oh no here we go again.

I pulled over open the hood and then seen that there was coolant everywhere, again thought oh no the heads have go (this would have been the second time now... more $$$) I had a look at the expansion tank and that was bone dry, all the water / coolant was on the left hand side of the engine as you look in.

I managed to slowly get the car the half a mile to my house, I let everything cool down then went out to see what’s what.

I then found that it was the top radiator hose that had split and blown letting all the coolant flush out. Has anyone heard of this happening before on a classic???

I’m just hoping there is no damage to the internals of the engine.

Here's a pic.

Alan.

[seafar99]

yip, this happened to mine, 75 miles into the journey home after i'd just bought the car. Not unusual at all since most classic's (read old subaru's) are at least 10years now.

[oz *sti*]

yip, this happened to mine, 75 miles into the journey home after i'd just bought the car. Not unusual at all since most classic's (read old subaru's) are at least 10years now.

Seafa99 did your head gaskets go as a knock on effect, or was it just a case of replace the pipe and that was you?

The headgaskets on my V3 STI, went about 3yrs ago and I got Greersport to skim the heads and the block and fit an upgraded gasket (steel I think, not 100% sure). So I thought the heads should still be o.k.

[seafar99]

I got lucky as i had just parked up in a motorway sevice station when the top radiator hose blew, so the engine wasn't turning over.Headgaskets were fine.

As subaru hose diametre is larger than your average rad hose, i had to fit a piece of average rad hose into the burst scoob hose and tape over the ripped part and drive the remaining 300 miles home keeping a close eye on the temp guage!

[john_stevenson2]

If you didn't over heat the car it should be fine, if you did, you are in the hands of the gods.

[Badgerboy]

Same coolant pipe burst on my classic about 2 weeks ago.

Started the car from cold and was looking for the source of a tiny oil leak the car currently has, when suddenly all this coolant came rushing down the block.

On closer inspection, it was the exact same pipe you have pictured above, however the hole in my pipe was smaller and definately from the previous owner using a crappy jubilee clip which had cut into the pipe and rusted which eventually caused this 1inch hole.

Have you priced a new pipe yet? I paid £30 including vat for mine from Subaru in Penicuik!